Chapter 191: The Clown Was Actually Me

"You aren't planning on going to the training ground alone, are you?"

Uchiha Gin, having finished celebrating with his little cousin, looked at Uchiha Madara, who had regained his spirit, and asked.

"Otherwise? Do you expect me to go to the training ground in the clan district?"

If he didn't go to the training ground, where else could he go?

The training grounds in the clan district were full of newbies pecking at each other; should he go there to bully the weak?

"Hmm~ How about this: you practice with Izuna today and do some rehabilitation. Tomorrow, we'll pick a spot, and I'll give you some proper guidance!"

Uchiha Gin thought for a moment, the outline of a script already forming in his mind, and then instructed the two of them.

"You got it! Let's go now~"

Hearing this arrangement, Izuna was very happy and urged them quickly, a hint of secret delight showing in his eyes as he looked at Uchiha Madara.

Hehe, his big brother hadn't eaten or drunk for three days; his body must be incredibly weak by now, so how could he still have the strength to spar?

Oh, Izuna! If he didn't take revenge now for all the times he'd been beaten black and blue by his big brother, when would he?

"Just the three of us?"

Although he sensed the hidden malice in his younger brother's eyes, Uchiha Madara didn't take it to heart; instead, he looked at Uchiha Gin, who was planning the schedule, and asked.

"Do you think it won't be lively enough?"

Uchiha Gin thought the other party felt there were too few people, so he asked.

"No, isn't that girl going?"

Uchiha Madara shook his head; he had never been able to gauge the depth of the girl named Uchiha Hikari who lived at his cousin's house.

He had inquired about her from his father on the side and only learned that she had once been one of the clan's top combatants, had spent years wandering, and had only recently returned, currently in a period of recuperation.

"You mean Hikari? There's no need for her right now. Let's talk about that after you pass my test!"

So this kid was thinking about Hikari!

It was a pity his level was still a bit lacking; he should wait until he awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan before talking about that.

"Alright."

Uchiha Madara frowned slightly upon hearing that Uchiha Hikari would not be participating in the training.

In his view, although his eldest cousin had strange methods, he wouldn't last more than a few rounds once he went all out.

However, since the other party had good intentions, he couldn't let him down, so he nodded in agreement.

"Then you brothers can catch up first. Your little cousin has been so worried about you lately that he hasn't even been in the mood to read his favorite ** magazines."

Uchiha Gin smiled and said goodbye. As he left, he didn't forget to sabotage little cousin Izuna; he was definitely going to be "put on trial" when he got home, so how could he let the culprit have it easy?

"Izuna! What have you been reading?"

Uchiha Madara was furious upon hearing this; his own brother was actually dabbling in that kind of soul-corrupting trash. It seemed he had indeed been too lax lately.

Before he committed a grave mistake, he had to set him straight!

"Ah? No! Big Brother, you have to—"

Hearing Uchiha Gin's "kind" reminder, Uchiha Izuna's face turned pale instantly. Seeing the volcanic rage in his big brother's eyes, his heart sank. Just as he was about to defend himself, Uchiha Madara grabbed him by the throat and dragged him toward the training ground.

Comrades, there is a traitor among us!

"Achoo!"

Walking happily out of the Clan Leader's residence and down the street, Uchiha Gin suddenly sneezed violently. He reached up to rub his nose, a hint of warmth flashing in his heart. As the saying goes: one thought, two scolds, three colds.

Little cousin, no need to thank me; this is what a big cousin should do~

The mission to persuade his big cousin to return to the arena was complete, but this was only a temporary measure. If he didn't awaken the Mangekyo, he would just be beaten black and blue by Hashirama again next time.

In the original story, the reason for the brothers awakening their eyes was written too hastily, only saying they personally ended the lives of those closest to them. Where was he supposed to find those closest to them?

"No matter what difficulties you encounter, you cannot sit and wait for death!"

Unable to think of a solution for a moment, Uchiha Gin decided to start his investigation with the people the two brothers were closest to.

So he first went to the Clan Leader's building. Although he had sworn never to come back, this was where the brothers usually reported for work, so he had to bite the bullet and go in to look for clues.

"Uncle~ Do Madara and Izuna have anyone they are particularly close to?"

Uchiha Gin decided to investigate from the top down. The first step was to find Uchiha Tajima, who was working. Under the man's bewildered expression, he asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

"Has Madara recovered his spirit?"

Uchiha Tajima, with a strange expression, did not answer Uchiha Gin's question but instead asked about Uchiha Madara's condition.

"I personally stepped in, what do you think?"

Uchiha Gin didn't humble himself and answered with a face full of pride.

"Hehe, as expected of you~"

Uchiha Tajima chuckled, his eyes becoming very playful as he looked at Uchiha Gin. He didn't say anything else and lowered his head to continue working.

"Seriously! If you won't say it, don't say it. Why act like a master in front of me?"

Having received no answer, Uchiha Gin grumbled about Uchiha Tajima for a long time in his heart and walked out of the Clan Leader's building, fuming.

Since he couldn't find the answer from their superior, he would go ask their subordinates. Maybe these two kids were secretly having an office romance.

After a few turns, Uchiha Gin arrived at the place where the Uchiha clan's combat troops were stationed.

But before Uchiha Gin could even step through the door, he was given the cold shoulder.

"Restricted area, no outsiders allowed!"

Two unfamiliar Uchiha clansmen stood at the entrance, blocking him with serious expressions. Four scarlet eyes scrutinized him up and down, while their hands reached for the long swords at their waists, their wariness plain to see.

"Don't misunderstand, I'm a law-abiding citizen!"

Uchiha Gin didn't want to cause trouble, so he raised his hands to show he had no ill intent and said,

"Let me in, I'm a relative of your commander."

"Heh, how many is that now? Every day someone claims to be a relative of the commander to swindle people here. Get lost, get lost."

The Uchiha guard sneered and drove him away impatiently. In his view, how could this curly-haired guy who looked so punchable be a relative of the young clan leaders?

They had only heard that the two young clan leaders had a big cousin who, although average in strength, was generous and kind, and deeply respected by the two of them.

"Ah? Believe me~"

Uchiha Gin prepared to pester them; if that didn't work, he would just use genjutsu to control these two guys and go in.

"Leave now, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

The tomoe in the eyes of one of the guards spun slightly, and he drew his long sword halfway, revealing a piercing cold light.

"Tsk! No choice then..."

Uchiha Gin sighed slightly in his heart; it seemed he could only hypnotize these two guys and then transform to sneak in.

"What is all this noise about?"

Just as Uchiha Gin was about to awaken his eyes, a cold voice came from inside the door, and then a familiar figure appeared at the entrance.

"Uh... you are..."

The person who arrived was about twenty years old, with a slender build, handsome features, and a high ponytail that swayed in the wind.

"Oh my~ Isn't this brother Kaho? Long time no see!"

Uchiha Gin recognized the person in front of him at a glance and quickly stepped forward to chat. It was easier with an acquaintance; he wouldn't have to pull so many shady moves.

"Uchiha Gin? What are you doing here?"

The person who arrived was Uchiha Kaho, whom Uchiha Gin had met a few times. They hadn't seen each other for a long time since he was transferred out of the dungeon. He didn't expect the other party to come to the troops today, and he didn't know what for.

"Hey, let's go inside and talk, let's go inside!"

Uchiha Gin didn't want to make his investigation common knowledge, so he familiarly put his arm around Uchiha Kaho's shoulder, signaling him to go inside and find a quiet place to talk.

"Captain Kaho?"

The two guards standing at the door saw that the punchable curly-haired guy actually knew Uchiha Kaho and seemed to have a close relationship with him. They were suddenly nervous—could he really be a relative of the commander?

Oh no, were they going to be reassigned to clean the toilets?

"It's fine, you did well. Report any suspicious personnel immediately next time."

Uchiha Kaho knew Uchiha Gin's identity and didn't ask further. He waved his hand to soothe the two anxious guards, encouraged them a few words, and walked into the troop gates with the smiling Uchiha Gin.

"Neither of the two young clan leaders is here. What exactly do you need?"

Bringing Uchiha Gin to a secluded spot, Uchiha Kaho glanced around to make sure no one was there and asked, his narrow eyes full of confusion.

"Sigh, you know, my big cousin hasn't been in a good state lately, and as his brother, I'm very worried."

Uchiha Gin's acting skills were in full swing. He sighed, showing a worried expression, and said to Uchiha Kaho with a sincere tone,

"That is indeed true; the two young clan leaders haven't been here for several days."

As one of his personal guards, Uchiha Kaho was naturally aware of Uchiha Madara not leaving his house.

"So, my purpose in coming is to ask if my two cousins have anyone they are close to in the troops, or anyone they care about—uh, gender doesn't matter."

Uchiha Gin organized his wording and asked, adding a final thought after a moment of reflection.

It was the Uchiha clan, after all; those who know, know.

"This..."

Hearing Uchiha Gin's inquiry, Uchiha Kaho fell into deep thought. Recalling the usual words and deeds of the two young clan leaders, he looked at the curly-haired guy in front of him with an increasingly strange expression.

"Kaho, let me tell you, my big cousin is super rich! See this gold brick? This is my New Year's money for this year!"

In his spare time, Uchiha Izuna carefully took out half a gold brick to show off to Uchiha Kaho.

"So you're the one called Uchiha Kaho? I heard you worked in the dungeon. Do you know someone named Uchiha Gin? Since you know him, come be my personal guard."

When Uchiha Kaho first arrived at the troops, he was questioned by the cold-faced Uchiha Madara during his induction. After answering with trepidation, he was directly selected for the personal guard unit.

"Kaho, my cousin saved my life. At that time, I and that white-haired guy from the Senju clan..."

"Uchiha Kokaku, how is the work environment for Uchiha Gin over there with you? Is there anyone bullying him in the workplace?"

"Kokaku."

As the memories surfaced in his mind, Uchiha Kokaku's expression became very strange, but not knowing how to say it directly to Uchiha Gin, he could only stammer,

"Um, why don't you go home and look for yourself?"

(End of chapter)